The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) performance in its national party congress on July 19 will be the determining factor for whether the People First Party (PFP) nominates its own presidential candidate for next year’s election, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) said yesterday.
Soong told a radio program that he would watch closely to see whether the KMT changes its candidate or adjust its policies, adding that his comments were not intended to “lecture” the KMT on what to do or whom to appoint as its presidential candidate.
It is a matter of what kind of politics the KMT is seeking to implement, Soong said.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
The KMT must learn the lessons from its landslide defeat in last year’s nine-in-one elections, Soong said, adding that the proposition of policies that fail to benefit the public or seeking to force issues in undemocratic ways will only create severe obstacles for the party.
The public is “reserved”; it is observing presidential hopefuls Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) of the KMT and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Soong said.
“The public is concerned about cross-strait relations, the safeguarding of Taiwan’s democratic political system and whether the candidates are capable of handling internal problems,” Soong said.
Soong did not say he would definitely run for president if the KMT did not adjust its policies.
He said that the nation is entangled in a web of economic, political and governmental problems, adding that he would continue to study policy proposals from both parties, and also visit central and southern Taiwan to get an in-depth “feel” for the mood of the public.
Soong said he agreed with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co chairman Morris Chang (張忠謀), who said that Taiwan needs to gain a competitive edge over China instead of continuing to rely on the so-called “ceding of benefits” to Beijing.
Soong said that he has no plans to run for a legislator-at-large position with an eye on the legislative speakership if he does not contest the presidency.
Since his wife passed away in July 2012, Soong said has learned to put things behind him, adding that if he runs for president, it would not be to advance his position, but rather based on his love for Taiwan.
He said that he would make a decision on his role as soon as the KMT confirms its candidate.
Soong ran for president in 2012 with Lin Ruey-shiung (林瑞雄) as his vice presidential candidate.
The pair received 2.77 percent of the total vote.
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